Vacuum head for filling containers



May 27, 1952 Q F CARTER Re. 23,504

VACUUM HEAD FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH POWDERS Original Filed Sept. 23, 1946 W/// F1o. 8 r

" :Nl/ENT .4

www e. HrroxNxY-t FIG. J

Ressued May 27, 1952 VACUUM HEAD FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH POWDERS Clarence F. Carter, Danville, Ill.

Original No. 2,513,143, dated June 27, 1950, Serial No. 698,605, September 23, 1946. Application for reissue June 8, 1951, Serial No. 230,568

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

, 13 Claims.

tainers closed by folding flaps, are guided into filling position in a shrouded filling head with the naps held so that they do not interfere with the filling operation, the container being gripped by an inflated means to form an air tight seal or joint near the top at about the level to which the container is to be filled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for firmly gripping the container near the open top forming an air tight joint around its entire periphery while it is held in filling position, in order that the pressure may be changed equally and simultaneously inside and outside the container.

It is a further object to provide an improvement in a machine for filling containers with solid particles by creating a vacuum in and around the container, the improvement comprising a member having a part adapted to iit loosely inside the open top of a container, another member spaced therefrom to fit loosely around the outside of said container, said parts forming an opening to receive the container closure means and a limited portion of the side walls, and means operable, for example by expansion or inflation to close said opening to make an air tight joint. Means are also provided to guide the container closure means into the opening.

When filling collapsible containers such as cardboard boxes closed by folding flaps, and especially when using vacuum type machines employing an equalizing shroud to prevent collapsing the container. problems exist in guiding the container into position, holding it during the filling operation, and at the same time forming an air tight joint around the top of the container. This permits the shroud and the inside of the container to be evacuated without leakage of air around the top of the container.

In the case of rigid containers, such as metal cans, closed by a separate lid, there is usually no need for the shroud. and the top of the can is usually held firmly against a resilient ring of suitable contour which effectively seals it from atmospheric leaks when in filling position. There are no aps to interfere, and the can is strong enough to withstand the pressure differential. Even with certain collapsible containers having a separate lid, the same type of device, with the shroud added, can be used as is shown in the above mentioned patent.

However bags and boxes closed by flaps or by folding the open end or which are too fragile to withstand pressing against a resilient ring, cannot be handled in this way, either because the container is not rigid enough to be pressed sufciently hard against the sealing ring to form the air tight joint necessary to accomplish the filling operation, or because the flaps interfere.

The present invention permits the air tight joint to be formed by means of a tube which, by inflating it, canbe brought to bear against the periphery of the container adjacent the top, either inside or outside, so as to press the container against a supporting lip oredge of the filling head or shroud, thereby forming the desired air tight joint.

In one specific embodiment the invention comprises an improved filling device for vacuum type machines for filling containers with comminuted solid, which comprises a vacuum filling head having an opening into a hopper, a pair of screened openings adjacent the hopper opening, said screened openings connecting with ducts for withdrawing and admitting air, a flanged throat piece adapted to fit inside a container to be lled, closure-guide members attached thereto, a part of said head adapted to fit around the outside of the container, said last mentioned part and said throat piece forming an opening conforming in shape and size to the outline of the vessel to permit entrance of the closure flaps and to permit limited egress of the top of the container, when in filling position, means operable to close said opening, and a vacuum shroud adapted to surround a container when in filling position, said shroud being closable by containerlifting means forming a part of the machine.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a side view partly in section of the filling head.

Figure 2 is a plan view in section along the lines 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is another embodiment of the invention partly in section.

Figure 4 is a plan view in section along the lines #-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, a lifting platform I0 is provided, preferably having a resilient ring Il around the outer rim thereof. The lifter may be actuated in a manner illustrated in the above mentioned Patent 2,360,198.

A container, I2, is placed upon the lifting platform I D which can then be elevated by a suitable means until the container is in filling position within the shroud I2. A rubber skirt or flap I4 around the bottom'of the flared shroud I2 rests against resilient ring II forming a continuous seal. thereby completely housing the container I2 within the shroud and preventing leakage of air when the shroud is evacuated. The shroud may be'evacuated through line Iii which leads to a source of vacuum not shown. The head as illustrated is used in comunction with a rectangular pasteboard carton having the usual folding closure iiaps Il and I8', there being two short Y flaps on each end and two naps on each side which fold in and overlap to close the box. The height of the shroud is such that when the lifting platform Il is in position the flaps-extend into the closurereceiving openings between the flanged inner throat 26 of the filling head and the outer shroud and support 23 and 24. The filling head shown in Figure 1 comprises a hopper I1 containing the powder. The hopper I1 opens directly to the interior of the carton when it is in filling position. The hopper can be movable, for example rotatable, and can have a plurality of similar heads depending therefrom. The head comprises a body I8 to which the hopper is fastened by conventional means, not shown, such as cap screws or the like. Openings are provided in the body I8 of the head for vacuum ducts I! and 20 leading to chamber 22, the outlet of which is covered by a screen 2|, forming one division of the filling head. There is another division in the head on the left hand side corresponding to this one. This is similar tothe device illustrated in Figure 3, attention being called to chambers 40, 4|, lines 28, 39 and screens 42, 43. Shroud supports 23 form the means of assembling body Il with shroud Il which has a flange 24 for this purpose. This `part nts around the outside of the container I2.

Attached to the body Il by means of screws 25 through a flush fitting lip is a flanged piece 28 forming a throat iittingloosely inside the open end of the container I2. The throat piece extends into container I2 a distance of about it to 1A inch, suflicient for it to be gripped by member 28 which is operable to close the opening formed by the throat piece and part of the head and shroud tting outside the container. pending from the throat piece 2B and sloping i'nwardiy are guides 21. These serve to spread flaps Il and Il and to guide them into the closure receiving opening just described, and to guide the open end of the container I2 into position around throat piece 26, as the lifting plate raises the container I2 into filling position. The lower part of the throat piece tits just inside the open top below the point at which the tiaps I8 and I1 join the box.

'Ihe throat piece 26 also serves to clamp screen 2i into place. The screen is cut slightly larger than the throat to cover-the entire area inside the throat. The screen is held in place between a downwardly extending lip of body I8 and the flanged edge of member 2B. A portion of the screen is cut awaysto correspond to the opening of hopper I1 through body I 8, this opening usually being circular. 'The lower end of the body I8 forming this opening from hopper II is tapered outwardly. A male insert 3| fits inside this opening and is flared at the end to correspond to the 4 taper, so as to grip the screen 2I and hold it in place. Insert 3l is held in place by any suitable means. The screen 2l thus is held firmly over the lower end of chamber 22 and prevents powder from entering the passage way and duct Il when the latter is evacuated. At' the same time powder can flow from hopper I1 into the container without interference when the interior is evacuated through chamber 22 and duct It. The top of shroud l2 is flanged as indicated at 2l.

In the embodiment shown xn Figures l and 2. a

groove or channel is cut in fiange 24 to receive expandable tube 28 which is made of rubber. synthetic rubber or other elastomer. The channel is preferably semi-circular in cross section. The rubber tube is continuous around the inside of the boss or flange 24 except for an outlet 28 through which compressed air can be introduced and allowed to escape. The outlet 29 is enclosed within a pipe 2li leading into boss 24 from a source of compressed air which when admitted, expands the tube 28 thus closing the closure-receiving opening. Thus. when the box I2 is in filling position. compressed air is introduced through pipe 2li and inlet tube 22 into the rubber tube 28 causing it to expand and press against the upper portion of the open top of the box I2 which in turn presses against the inside edge of the throat piece 26, thus forming an air tight joint preventing air being drawn either into the shroud or the inside of the box when vacuum is supplied. The shroud is closed at the bottom by lift platform Ill as described. The air can be withdrawn from the shroud around the exterior of the box through duct I6 at the same time it is withdrawn from the interior of the box through screened head 2 I, passage 22 and duct I9. Ducts I5 and Il are attached to a source of .vacuum so that the pressure inside and outside the box is about the same at all times. Because of the difference in pressure between the interior of the box and on the powder in the hopper, the powder is drawn through duct Il into the box I2. In this manner the box is nlled to capacity.

The preferred operation is carried out withdrawing air from rst one side and then the other of the divided filling head with an interval between in which the` pressure is restored to atmospheric by allowing air to flow back through the duct which has been evacuated, thus clearing the screen of powder that may have been accumulated thereon. By alternating the evacuation and relief of pressure between the heads, a rapid and uniform filling operation is accomplished.

When the filling is complete. pressure is restored to normal both in box I2 and shroud I3. Expanded tube 28 is deflated thus releasing its grip on the box. Lift plate I0 is lowered, removing the box from filling position. It is then removed from the lift plate, and replaced by an empty container and the operation is repeated. The filled box is closed and sealed by suitable means.

Figure 3 illustrates a modification in which the expandable tube is in the flanged throat member and closes the closure-passage by expanding outwardly against the inside of the open top of the container which in turn is thrust against flange 24, thereby sealing it in such a way that it can be evacuated in a manner described above in connection with Figures l and 2. The body I8 contains compartments 40 and 4I connected with ducts 38 and 39 connected with a source of vacuum. These compartments are covered by screens 42 and 42 held in position by member 3| and the flanged edge of throat piece 32 which is fastened to the body Il ln a manner similar to that previously described in connection with Figure l. The flap or closureguides 33, are similar to guides 21 shown in Figures l and 2. A channel or groove is. cut around the exterior portion of throat piece 32, running circumferentially and parallel with the sides of the containerI into which an expandable tube 34 fits. An outlet tube 35 extends through a vertical passage drilled in the throat piece 32 and extending into body I8. This passage opens into a duct 31 connected with a source of compressed air. Vacuum ducts 3B and 39 lead into passages 40 and 4I within head Il and these in turn. communicate with the screened openings 42 and 43 through 'which the air contained Within container I2 may be withdrawn by the use of an appropriate valving system. In operation the lifting plate I0 thrusts the container I2 upward and the flaps of the container slide along the guide prongs 33 into the apor closure-receiving passageway between the throat piece 32 and body I8 on the one side and flange 24 on the other. Compressed air is introduced through duct 31 and causes tube 34 to expand and press the upper lip of the container against the shroud, thereby sealing it. By evacuating the container alternately through screens 42 and 43 and at the same time evacuating the shroud through line I5, powder is caused to flow through duct I1 into the interior of the container. The screens are cleared as above described.

The flanged member 24 and support 23 can be integral with body I8, and shroud I3 can be attached thereto.

The rubber members 28 can be actuated by cams, for example to press against the sides of the container and fill the opening. Expandable members 28 and 34 can be combined in one head.

In order to prevent certain types of containers from bulging due to slight differences in pressure inside and outside the container, fins I3 may be provided. These also aid in guiding the container into position. The preferred embodiments of my invention are described but it should be understood that modification thereof within the scope of one skilled in the art may come within its scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. A filling head for vacuum type machines adapted to ll containers with powdered solids, which comprises means for attaching said head to a hopper, a body having a central opening for passing powder from said hopper into a container when the latter is in filling position with relation to said head, a first screened opening in said body, a second screened opening in said body, ducts connecting said screened openings with a source of reduced pressure, a throat piece adapted to t loosely inside a container to be lled, said throat piece comprising guide members for guiding said container into position around said throat piece, a member spaced from said throat piece and lying around it thereby forming an opening adapted to receive the closure means of said container and a, limited portion of its side walls, an inflatable member adapted when inflated to press against the portion of said container within said opening thereby forming an air tight joint, a shroud, means for attaching said shroud to the filling head, means for attaching said shroud to a source of vacuum. and means on said shroud engageable with a lift plate of the filling machine when said container is in filling position to form an air tight Joint.

2. A filling head for vacuum type machines adapted to fill containers with comminuted solids, which comprises means for attaching said head to a hODDer, a body having an opening for l passing comminuted solids from said hopper into a container when the latter is in filling position with relation to said head, a screened opening in said body, ducts connecting said screened opening with a source of reduced pressure, a throat piece adapted to fit loosely inside a container to be filled, an annular member spaced from said throat piece defining an opening adapted to receive the closure means of said container and a limited portion of its side walls, an expandable member adapted when expanded` to press against the portion of said container within said opening, thereby forming a vacuum tight joint, a shroud, means for engaging said shroud and said filling head, means for attaching said shroud to a source of vacuum, and means on said shroud engageable with a container lift plate of the filling machine forming a vacuum tight joint when a container is in filling position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the expandable member is incorporated in said throat piece.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the expandable member is incorporated in said annular member.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the shroud comprises container positioning guides.

6. A filling head for vacuum type machines adapted to fill containers with fiowable matter, which comprises: a body having, a central opening for passing material into a container when the container is in filling position with relation to said head, a second opening in said body communicating with the interior of a container when in said filling position, said body having a duct connecting said second opening with a source of reduced pressure for reducing the pressure in said container, a throat-piece adapted to fit loosely with slight clearance inside a container to be filled, a member spaced from said throatpiece and lying around it thereby forming a third opening adapted to receive the upper end of said container, and sealing means operable prior to reduction of pressure in said container arranged to press laterally against the portion of said container within said third opening thereby pressing it for a distance equal to said clearance and thus forming an air-tight joint.

7. A filling head for vacuum type machines adapted to flll containers with flowable matter, which comprises: a body having a first opening for passing flowable material into a container having closure flaps when the container is in filling position with relation to said head, a second opening in said body communicating with the interior of a container when in said filling position, said body having a duct connecting said second opening with a source of reduced pressure for reducing the pressure in said container,

a throat-piece adapted to fit loosely inside said container, an annular member spaced from said throat-piece defining a third opening adapted to receive the closure flaps of said container and a limited portion of its side walls, and sealing means operable prior to reduction o! pressure in said container arranged to press laterally against the portion of said container within said third opening, thereby forming a vacuum-tight foint.

8. A filling head for vacuum type machines adapted to fill cartons with fiowable matter, which comprises.' a body having a central opening for passing material into a carton having closure flaps when the carton is in filling position with relation to said head, said body having an opening and a duct connecting said opening with a source of reduced pressure, a throat-piece adapted to fit loosely inside a carton to be filled, said throat-piece comprising guide members for guiding the closure flaps of said carton into position-around the outside of said throat-piece, a member spaced from said throat-piece and llying around it thereby forming anvopening'of a height sufiicient to receive the vclosure flaps of said carton and a limited portion of its side walls, a sealing member arranged to press against the portion of the side walls of said cartonuithin said lastmentioned opening thereby forming an air-tight seal, a shroud forming a continuation of said member enclosing the sides of said carton, a plate f or supporting said carton in said shroud in filling position and cooperable with the lower end of said shroud to form a closure therefor, said shroud having a passage communicating with the e1:- terior thereof and connectible with a source of reduced pressure, and fins in said shroud for guiding said carton into filling position.

9. A vacuum type filling machine adapted to fill containers having a bottom, side wall forming portions and an open top with finely divided flowable solid material comprisingfa headhaving a filling opening through which the finely divided material may flow intoa container with a portion of the head disposed within the open mouth of the container, a shroud for the container, searate conduit means for simultaneously producing Vsub-atmospheric pressure within the container and in the portion of the shroud disposed around the container, and sealing means laterally engageable with the side wall forming portions of the container for preventing communication between the interior of the container, while under sub-atmospheric pressure, and that portion ofthe interior of the shroud which is also under subatmospheric pressure.

10. A filling machine as defined in claim 9 wherein the extreme upper portion of the body of the container is exposed to atmospheric pressure while sub-atmospheric pressure is being maintained in the interior of said ,container and the interior of said shroud.

11. A vacuum type filling machine adapted to fill containers having. a bottom, side wall forming portions and an open top with finely divided flowable solid material omprising: a head having a filling opening thro gh which finely divided material may flow into a container with a portion of the head disposed within the open mouth of the container, a shroud for the container, sealing means adapted to be moved into lateral engagement with the side wail forming portions of the container in a zone spaced from that end portion of the container body having the open mouth for preventing 'communication between the interior of the container and the interior of the shroud,

a conduit communicating with the interior of the container when the latter is in filling position and has been thus sealed, and a separate conduit communicating with 'the shroud whereby to permit the simultaneous creation of sub-atmospheric pressure `within the container and within the portion of the shroud surrounding the container.

12. A filling machine as defined in claim 1.1 wherein the portion of the body of the container \\between said sealing means and the open end of the container is exposed to atmospheric pressure while the sub-atmospheric pressure is being maintained in the interior of the container and in the interior of saidshroud.

13. The method of filling a container having a bottom, side wall forming portions and an open top with fiowable solid material, comprising: creating a sub-atmospheric pressure within the container -to induce the flow of said fiowable solid material thereinto; creating a sub-atmospheric pressure around the exterior of said container in a region spaced from and below the open mouth of the container to prevent said container from collapsing under vthe influence of the subatmospheric pressure produced therein to effect filling thereof; and laterally sealing the side wall forming portions of the container below the open mouth of the container to prevent communication between the sub-atmospheric pressure within the container and the sub-atmospheric pressure aroundthe exterior of the container. v

' CLARENCE F. CARTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file o1' this patent or the original patent:

492,560- France Mar. 25, 191'9 

